Man hindered stabbing probe in Framingham

Monday

Aug 25, 2014 at 7:07 PMAug 26, 2014 at 9:22 AM

By Norman MillerDaily News Staff

FRAMINGHAM - A Blackstone man broke up a fight in which his friend was stabbed on Saturday, but was arrested because he hindered the investigation into the attack, authorities said.Despite witnessing his friend being stabbed, Richard O. Hazzard, 25, refused to give police any information that could lead to the stabbing suspect and was even caught on video throwing the knife into a storm drain on Kendall Street, authorities said.The victim, a 25-year-old Framingham man, was found collapsed on Franklin Street with a single wound to his chest, prosecutor Nate Burris said.At first, the victim would not give any information, and neither would Hazzard, who was with him, according to a police report filed in Framingham District Court on Monday."(Hazzard's) immediate response was that he had nothing to say, didn't see anything and had no involvement in the crime," the report said.At MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, the victim said his attacker, whom he could not identify, stabbed him for no reason. He said Hazzard stepped between the two and stopped the attack, the report said.Police told Hazzard they knew he tried to break up the fight and asked for more details, but again, he refused to talk."I am still not saying anything. I know the game. I ain't no rat," the report said, quoting Hazzard.Police began an investigation and found a security video that captured the stabbing. The video shows a man later identified as Patrick Riley, 23, of Framingham, stabbing the victim in the chest, police said. According to the report, police have obtained a warrant for Riley's arrest, charging him with assault with intent to murder.The video shows Riley trying to put the knife back into his pocket, but then Hazzard is seen motioning to Riley to throw the knife into a storm drain, Burris said. When Riley misses the drain, Hazzard picks the knife up and throws the knife into the drain, the prosecutor said.Police issued a warrant for Hazzard's arrest. They charged him with accessory after the fact and misleading a police officer.Burris asked Judge Douglas Stoddart to hold Hazzard on $5,000 bail. He said Hazzard has served six years in prison for an armed assault with a gun.Hazzard's lawyer, Michael Brennan, said Hazzard only served three years and is wearing a GPS monitoring bracelet. He said Hazzard was playing peacemaker and was not trying to cover up the crime."He flipped the knife in the drain to avoid getting stabbed himself," Brennan said.Stoddart ordered Hazzard held on $5,000 bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 18 for a pretrial conference.Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date crime news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW.